Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1887-12-02
THE GARFIELD MONUMENT.
Dissatisfaction Expressed by the General
Public.
Some Specifications and Descriptions
of Interest

CLEVELAND, o.. Dec. |,
1t will be a year yet before the Garfield
memorial monument at Cleveland is COM
pleted and the remains of the dead President
placed at rest forever in the tomb prepared
for them by the people of the United States.
During the last six months there have been
many unfavorable criticisms passed upon the
committee in charge of the construction of
the monument, on account of radical
change made in the original plans whereby
the height is reduced nearly 50 feet, thus to
a certain extent marring the symmetry and
proportions of the structure. 1t has also
been stated that the money subscribed for
the purpose had been e1travagantly expend-
ed and that the entire work would fall far
below the expectations of the projectors
in other words, the monument was failure.
Probably no similar work has been the
subject of so much discussion as this. En-
gineers have denounced the plan and man
ner of construction; architects and the gen
eral public have laughed at and condemned
the design, and the committee in charge has
filled columns of local papers with elaborate
replies to their captlous critics. As orlgi-
naly designed, the monument was to have
been 22S feet in height As ii now stands
the height is but 20 feet from base to tip.
The monument is very nearly finished as
regards its exterior Its height is l10 feet,
and it is surmounted by an open, arched,
carved stone lantern. An order of canopled
and tracered windows enriches and breaks
the summit of the tower AT its base pro-
jects square porch, decorated internally
with a historical frieze. 1t is divided into
bas-reliefs, which represent the career of
Garfield as teacher. a soldier, statesman,
a President, and his remarkable funeral.
hran hini
will be reached by wide spreading steps and
thus form dignifed approach to the monu-
ment. The porch is entered through wide
and richly decorated recess portal, and with
in is wide vestibule vaulted in stone and
with pavement of stone mosaic.
The memorial shrine occupies the entire
space enclosed by the outer circular walls of
the tower and is designed to contain bronze
or marble portrait statue of Garfield. standing
on pedestal in the centre of the chamber
The statue is made the soul of the monument;
the whole design leads up to and is concen-
trated on this central figure; the monument
grows out of this kernel as it were and the
tower surrounds and rises above its treasure,
and proclaims it to the world. In crypt
underneath the rotunda is situated the mortu-
ary chapel, and here will be placed the body
of the dead President
1t is the intention of the trustees to decor
ate this interior in very elaborate manner
1t is as vet very incomplete, but nevertheless
visitors are charged an admission fee of 10
cents to view the structure. The fund
originally raised amounted to $3.50. 1888
and with interest for six years past will even
tuallv reach $780, 900. Garfeld's body now
lies in the public receiving vault of the Gem
etery. having been placed there when the
government guard was removed.